Road roller



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 B. H. FLYNN ROAD ROLLER Filed Match 24, 1941 Sept. 15, 1942.

Sept. 15, 1942. B Y N 2,295,645

ROAD ROLLER Filed March 24, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 B. waz nw/ Sept. 15, 1942.

B. H. FLYNN ROAD ROLLER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 24, 1941 R i9. waz mb Patented Sept. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,295,645 ROAD ROLLER Benjamin H. Flynn, Alexandria, La.

Application March 24, 1941, Serial No. 385,018

(Cl. 94-50) v 7 Claims.

The invention aims to provide a new and improved roller construction designed primarily for rolling layers of material used in road building, the structure being such that front and rear rolling' wheels, preferably rubber tired, may relatively move vertically and may laterally tilt to uniformly compact the material being rolled even though the surface thereof may be more or less uneven.

In carrying out the above end, I mount a plurality of auxiliary frames longitudinally of a main frame, each auxiliary frame being provided with a series of rolling wheels, and further objects are to connect the auxiliary frames with the main frame in a novel and advantageous manner to permit each auxiliary frame to vertically float and to laterally tilt, permitting the rolling wheels to move likewise as the undulations and the like in the material being rolled may require; to provide each auxiliary frame with a larger number of wheels at one end than at the other end and to stagger the wheels so that the material skipped by'the front wheel or wheels will be packed by the rear wheel or wheels; and to provide each auxiliary frame with its own independent ballast box, permitting desired weight to be applied to its rolling wheels for proper compaction.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a roller constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with the central auxiliary frame, however, shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a front end view illustrating the manner in which the rolling wheels and their frames may tilt and may vertically move.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of one of the auxiliary frames, and its wheels and ballast box, detached from the main frame.

A preferred construction has been illustrated and will be rather specifically described, with the understanding, however, that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous variations may be made. It may also be stated that whereas the left end of the machine is considered its front end in the present disclosure, the right end could be the front end if desired.

A main frame 5 is shown having longitudinal side bars 6 and front and rear end bars I, all preferably of channeled form. The end bars are preferably provided with central reinforcing webs or flanges 8, and for general strength of the entire frame, these end bars are preferably braced to the side-bars 6 by means of appropriate corner plates 9, bolted or riveted in place.

Disposed longitudinally within the main frame 5, are a number of auxiliary frames Ill each having a wide yoke-like end II and a narrow end l2, said frames l0 being preferably'constructed from channel bars or the like, suitably secured together. Each end of each auxiliary frame I0 is provided with an upper pivot member l3 disposed over the adjacent end bar I, and with a lower pivot member I4 disposed under said end bar, the relation of said pivot members and end bar being such that the auxiliary frame I!) may vertically move at either or both ends, with respect to the main frame 5. The pivot members I3 and M are preferably in the form of rollers carried by suitable brackets 15 secured to the ends of the frame l0. These pivot members or rollers are slidably and pivotally received between pairs of vertical guide tracks or equivalent 1 guides 16 which are secured to and project upwardly and downwardly from the end bars I. The space between the guides [6 of each pair is greater than the diameter of the pivot member or roller l3 or M received between said guides, as will be clear from Figs. 1 and 3. Thus, not only is it possible for the auxiliary frames to raise and lower with respect to the main frame 5 (see the left and right sides of Fig. 3) but it is possible for any auxiliary frame to laterally tilt with respect to said main frame (see the central portion of Fig. 3), and these movements of the frames permit the packing wheels to adapt themselves to the contour of the surface being packed.

Each one of the auxiliary frames I0 is supported by a series of rubber tired packing wheels, there being preferably three to each series. Two of the wheels ll are disposed at opposite sides of the narrow frame portion 12 and are suitably mounted thereon, while the third wheel I8 is embraced by the wide yoke-like portion H of the frame lo, the wheels being staggered with respect to each other so that the material missed by the front wheels will be packed by the rear.

The wheels may, of course, be connected with the frames in any desired manner, connecting means for the wheels I! being denoted in a general way at l9, and connecting means for the wheels l8 being indicated at 20.

Each auxiliary frame Ill is provided with a longitudinal ballast box 2| suitably secured thereon and having its bottom arched over the wheels I! and I8, as shown at 22 in Fig. 2. The end portion 23 of the ballast box over the pair of wheels I! of each auxiliary frame In is wider than the end portion 24 over the single wheel l8 so as to permit even distribution of weight over the front and rear wheels, and the wide ends of the boxes nest with the narrow ends of adjacent boxes as shown in Fig. 1, said wide and narrow ends of adjacent boxes being, of

- ing of the other wheels abreast or tandem thereto, and it will be obvious that the auxiliary frames and their wheels may also tilt as may be required at any time, occasioned for example by the necessity of one wheel I! of any frame riding over an obstruction while the other is riding on the level or entering a depression.

Excellent results are obtainable from the general construction shown and described and it is, therefore, preferably followed. However, within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may of course be made, and it will be understood that the machine may embody any desired number of the auxiliary wheels and frames, and that shapes, sizes and general proportions may be changed as desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A roller comprising a main horizontal frame having longitudinal side bars and front and rear end bars extending between and secured to said side bars; upper pairs of vertical guide tracks secured to and projecting upwardly from said end bars, said pairs being Spaced apart transversely of said main frame and the tracks of each pair being also spaced apart transversely of said main frame, lower pairs of vertical guide tracks secured to and projecting downwardly from said end bars, the tracks of said lower pairs being vertically alined with those of said upper pairs; a plurality of auxiliary horizontal frames extending longitudinally between said end bars, each of said auxiliary frames having its front end disposed in close relation with one upwardly projecting pair and one downwardly projecting pair of the tracks on said front end bar, the rear end of each auxiliary frame being related with one upwardly projecting pair and one downwardly projecting pair of tracks on said rear end bar in the same manner that said front end of said auxiliary frame is related with the tracks on said front end bar; an upper and a lower pivot member projecting longitudinally outward from each end of said auxiliary frames and spaced respectively above and below said end bars to allow said auxiliary frames to vertically float independently, the upper pivot members being received between the tracks of said upper pairs and in spaced relation therewith, and the lower pivot members being received in the same manner between the tracks of said lower pairs to allow said auxiliary frames to laterally tilt independently; and front and rear packing wheels connected with and supporting the front and rear ends of each of said auxiliary frames.

2. In a roller, a main frame having a transverse horizontal end bar, an upper pair of vertical guide tracks secured to and projecting upwardly from said and bar, the tracks of said pair being spaced apart longitudinally of said end bar, a lower pair of vertical guide tracks secured to and projecting downwardly from said end bar. the upper and lower tracks being vertically alined, a horizontal wheel-supported auxiliary frame having one of its ends disposed at the inner side of said end bar near said tracks, and upper and lower pivot members projecting longitudinally outward from said end of said auxiliary frame and vertically spaced a distance greater than the vertical dimension of said end bar, said upper pivot member being disposed over said end bar and being received between and spaced from the tracks of said upper pair, said lower pivot member being disposed under said end bar and being received between and spaced from the tracks of said lower pair, whereby said wheel-supported auxiliary frame may vertically float and may laterally tilt with respect to said main frame.

3. A roller comprising a main frame, a plurality of elongated auxiliary frames disposed abreast of each other and extending longitudinally of said main frame, front connecting means loosely connecting the front ends of all of said auxiliary frames with said main frame, rear connecting means loosely connecting the rear ends of all of said auxiliary frames with said main frame, said front and rear connecting means comprising coacting elements on the main and auxiliary frames loosely engaged with each other to permit said auxiliary frames to independently tilt and independently float vertically, and front and rear wheels for each of said auxiliary frames, the front wheels being staggered with respect to the rear wheels.

4. A roller comprising a main frame, a plurality of elongated auxiliary frames disposed abreast of each other and extending longitudinally of said main frame, front connecting means loosely connecting the front ends of all of said auxiliary frames 'with said main frame, rear connecting means loosely connecting the rear ends of all of said auxiliary frames with said main frame, said front and rear connecting means comprising vertical tracks and guides on the main and auxiliary frames loosely engaged with each other to permit said auxiliary frames to independently tilt and independently float vertically, and front and rear wheels for each of said auxiliary frames, the front wheels being staggered with respect to the rear wheels.

5.,A structure as specified in claim 3; each of said auxiliary frames being provided with two wheels at one end and with one wheel at its other end, each of said auxiliary frames having a narrow end extending between the two wheels at its one end, and also having a relatively wide yoke-like end embracing the third wheel at its other end.

6. A structure as specified in claim 3; together with independent ballast boxes for said auxiliary frames, said ballast boxes being elongated longitudinally of said auxiliary frames and having their bottoms arched over the front and rear wheels of said auxiliary frames.

7. A structure as specified in claim 3; each of said auxiliary frames being provided with two last box over said two wheels being wider than the end over said one wheel.

BENJAMIN H. FLYNN. 

